Entries are now open for this year's Fanfare competition. The competition, which is open to 11 to 16-year-olds across the UK, invites participants to create and record a short, attention-grabbing composition that will be played to audiences before performances to let them know that it’s time to take their seat.

Participants simply submit a 30-second MP3 recording of their work, whether played on an instrument or using music software. The winning entrants will then be invited to the Royal Opera House where, over the course of four weeks, they will work with composer Duncan Chapman, orchestra members and Music Director Antonio Pappano. The students will learn how to develop and orchestrate their composition ahead of it being played and recorded by the Royal Opera House Orchestra.

‘The winning participants come into the recording sessions to help me shape these pieces,’ says Antonio Pappano. ‘They change the tempo and orchestration, so that they are involved in actually creating the music, which is a fantastic and important experience.’

Their final work is used throughout the season to announce the start of performances.

John Wiseman (aged 15) from Cockermouth School in Cumbria composed one of last season’s winning fanfares.

'As well as introducing me to other young artists,' he says, 'the project has played a large role in improving my abilities to communicate ideas to professional musicians and young composers, and to refine my own music.’